Car ‘deliberately’ driven into huge crowd attending service at a cemetery in Dundalk

Several people are injured – one seriously – as car is ‘deliberately’ driven into huge crowd attending a ‘grave-blessing’ service at a cemetery in Dundalk

  • A car appears to drive into crowds at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Dundalk, Ireland
  • Several are injured, including one seriously, following the incident 
  • Crowds were taking part in the annual Blessing of the Graves ceremony

Several people have been injured – including one seriously – after a car collided with crowds at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland.   

Gardai said they are dealing with an incident which occurred at 4pm on Sunday at Dowdallshill, in Dundalk Co Louth.

Ambulance attend the scene as Garda deal with an incident which occurred at 4pm on Sunday at Dowdallshill, in Dundalk Co Louth

What is Blessing of the Graves?

An Irish Catholic tradition, usually held on a Sunday during summer, in which families gather to pay their respects to the dead. 

A service is usually held by a Catholic priest. 

Communities across Ireland gather at local parishes to bless graves of loved ones, often decorating them with flowers and wreaths.  

Police said: ‘It is understood from initial investigations that one pedestrian (gender unknown) was seriously injured and a number of other pedestrians received minor injuries following a road traffic collision.

A video captured at the scene where crowds were taking part in the annual Blessing of the Graves ceremony appears to show the car ploughing towards the group at speed. 

Several hundreds of people are thought to have been present, with many attending along with children. 

Simon Conroy, a member of the crowd, told The Irish Times: ‘There were a lot of children crying, it was frightening. In the moments afterwards there was a lot of confusion.’  

A video captured at the scene where crowds were taking part in the annual Blessing of the Graves ceremony appears to show the car ploughing towards the group

A video captured at the scene where crowds were taking part in the annual Blessing of the Graves ceremony appears to show the car ploughing towards the group

Several people have been injured – including one seriously - after the car collided with crowds

Several people have been injured – including one seriously – after the car collided with crowds

  

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk